Oryptophagus.] clavicornia. 321 



II. Anterior finErles of thorax with the callosity taking 

 the form of a blniitly projecting tooth ; lateral 

 teeth of thorax situated a little behind middle of 



sides C. DISTINGUENDUS, Stuftn. 



III. Anterior angles of thorax very prominent and pro- 

 duced behind in a large strong tootli ; lateral teeth 



of thorax situated in middle of sides. 

 i. Thorax strongly transverse; tooth of anterior 



angles hooked C. ACDTANGULUs, Oyll. 



ii. Thorax subquadrate; tooth of anterior angles 



pointed C. fumatus, Gyll. 



C. validus, Kr. This species very closely resembles a large example 

 of the var. pafruelis of C. scanicus ; the thorax, however, is more rounded 

 behind the middle, and has the anterior callosity less defined, and the 

 elytra are longer, more parallel, more finely punctured, and more densely 

 clothed with golden pubescence ; from C. sar/inafus it may be known by 

 having the lateral teeth situated in the middle of sides instead of before 

 middle ; the thorax is distinctly and rather deeply punctured, and the 

 anterior angles are narrowdy reflexed, the callosities not being marked 

 and not terminating in a tooth behind ; the elytra are closely and finely 

 punctured ; the colour is entirely ferruginous or rufous, and the fine 

 and close golden pubescence gives it a yellowish appearance ; it is one 

 of our larger species. L. 2f-3 mm. 



In refuse, decaying herbage, &c. ; sometimes in warehouses ; very rare ; Edgbaston 

 and Handsworth (Blatch) ; Scarborough (Lawson) ; Southampton (Gorham)j New- 

 castle and South Shields (Bold). The specimens introduced by Mr. Rye (Knt. 

 Monthly Mag. vi. 257) as C. fumatus were afterwards referred by him to this species 

 (Ent. Monthly Mag. vii. 9). 



C. dentatus, Herbst. (paUidus, Sturm). Elongate, somewhat 

 parallel-sided, smaller and narrower than C. scanicus, lighter or darker 

 ferruginous or rufous, thickly and not very finely pubescent ; head very 

 thickly punctured, antennse with the third joint a little longer than 

 second ; thorax thickly punctured, subquadrate, with the anterior angles 

 not strongly callose and the lateral teeth situated plainly before middle 

 of sides ; elytra finely but not very thickly punctured, the punctuation 

 near suture being almost in rows, and becoming finer towards apex ; 

 lews ferruo-inous, male with the anterior tibicC and tarsi scarcely dilated ; 

 size very variable. L. l|-2 mm. 



In haystack and other refuse, under bark, &c. ; common and generally distributed 

 throughout the kingdom. 



This very common and variable species often gives rise to much 

 difficulty ; it may, however, be distinguished by its parallel form and 

 the small development of the callosities of the anterior angles of thorax, 

 as well as by having the lateral teeth distinctly situated before the 

 middle of the sides ; in this latter point it resembles C. saginaius, but 

 it may easily be distinguished from that species by its subquadrate and 

 almost parallel-sided thorax and quite different shape. 



VOL. III. ^ 



